Our two main commercial diagnostic labs, Idexx and Antech Diagnostics are geared to identifying cats
with high antibody titers to coronavirus to help determine why a particular cat is ill - not the seemingly «normal» cats that can carry the virus at low levels.
Nonetheless, we may be able to avoid some un-needed boosters in patients
with high antibody titers, especially those with a history of reactions to vaccines or other medical concerns.
This test reacts only to
high antibody titers, which don't develop until months after infection.
Apparently, cats with
a higher antibody titer are not necessarily protected, and cats with a lower titer may not be unprotected.
A new study (2016) found that cats overdue on their rabies vaccine often still had
a high antibody titer and did not need to be quarantined or euthanized if exposed to a rabid animal.